Welcome

7th Symposium of the Ratzinger Foundation

29 and 30 November, 1 December 2017

Fernando Sánchez CamposRector of the Catholic University

We would be honored if you would join us in the most important practical theology and ecology event of the year. The Catholic University of Costa Rica feels proud to have been appointed by the Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation to organize and host this Symposium, the first of its kind held in Costa Rica and Central America. This event also serves to celebrate our 25th anniversary in the service of our country under the motto: “Better people, better professionals”.

On behalf of the Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica, we wish to express our deepest gratitude to the Ratzinger Foundation for this opportunity and for the trust placed in us to organize the Symposium Laudato Si “On Care for Our Common Home, a necessary conversation on Human Ecology”. For this event, we have the complete support of the Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica, the Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM), the Organization of Catholic Universities in Latin America and the Caribbean (ODUCAL), and the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU).

Caring for our common home is an issue that concerns the world and every human being in it, no matter his or her religious creed. The Symposium transcends the ecclesiastical sphere for this reason. The event includes both theological and scientific analysis of the topic. Consequently, not only theologians from the Catholic Church will be participating but also academics and scientists from the most prestigious universities around the world.
The presentation of a system of measurement or index of development of countries around the world is a milestone for the Symposium. The index is based on the environmental indicators proposed in the Encyclical Letter of Pope Francis entitled “Laudato Si”. In addition, the Laudato Si Observatory will be inaugurated at the Catholic University of Costa Rica with the objective of monitoring the planet in matters relating to the environment and society.

We are happy to welcome everyone to Costa Rica. Our green country was chosen specifically for its fame around the world as a nation that is concerned about the environment and use of clean energy. Together, government, private companies, the church, and academia can work together to ensure that the Encyclical of Pope Francis can be put into action and leave a better home for future generations.